Епоха невинності

           ButMadameOlenska,heedlessoftradition,wasattiredinalongrobeofredvelvetborderedaboutthechinanddownthefrontwithglossyblackfur.Archerremembered,onhislastvisittoParis,seeingaportraitbythenewpainter,CarolusDuran,whosepictureswerethesensationoftheSalon,inwhichtheladyworeoneoftheseboldsheath-likerobeswithherchinnestlinginfur.Therewassomethingperverseandprovocativeinthenotionoffurwornintheeveninginaheateddrawing-room,andinthecombinationofamuffledthroatandbarearms;buttheeffectwasundeniablypleasing."Lordloveus—threewholedaysatSkuytercliff!"BeaufortwassayinginhisloudsneeringvoiceasArcherentered."You’dbettertakeallyourfurs,andahot-water-bottle.""Why?Isthehousesocold?"sheasked,holdingoutherlefthandtoArcherinawaymysteriouslysuggestingthatsheexpectedhimtokissit."No;butthemissusis,"saidBeaufort,noddingcarelesslytotheyoungman."ButIthoughthersokind.Shecameherselftoinviteme.GrannysaysImustcertainlygo.""Grannywould,ofcourse.AndIsayit’sashameyou’regoingtomissthelittleoystersupperI’dplannedforyouatDelmonico’snextSunday,withCampaniniandScalchiandalotofjollypeople."ShelookeddoubtfullyfromthebankertoArcher."Ah—thatdoestemptme!ExcepttheothereveningatMrs.Struthers’sI’venotmetasingleartistsinceI’vebeenhere.""Whatkindofartists?Iknowoneortwopainters,verygoodfellows,thatIcouldbringtoseeyouifyou’dallowme,"saidArcherboldly.